I am a CPA in Texas with an MBA from the University of Chicago. I have seen a lot and made many mistakes. Hopefully by now I will have learned something from them. Just as importantly, you may learn something from my mistakes. You can e-mail me by clicking on my "View my complete profile".

Friday, May 14, 2010

Go Blago!-2

"With his trial on corruption charges weeks away, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich [Blago] sought an unusual witness for the defense: President Barack Obama. ... Spokesmen for the White House and federal prosecutors declined to comment. ... At a news conference this week, he called US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald a coward. Mr. Fitzgerald brought the corruption charges against [Blago]. ... Mr. Obama has said no representative of his had anything to do with the alleged deals for the Senate seat, according to the motion. [Blago] argues that those statements 'contradict the testimony of an important government witness'," Douglas Belkin & Joe Barrett at the WSJ, 23 April 2010, link:

"[Blago] finally made good on a promise. He put President Barack Obama right in the middle of [Blago's] own political corruption case. And now it's finally clear why, from the moment of [Blago's] arrest in December 2008, White House spinners loudly portrayed our former Gov. Dead meat as some drooling, raving lunatic. ... But raving lunatics care little for their own survival. And in an amazing defense motion filed Thursday, [Blago] proved once again that he is quite sane. ... Obama's former patron and real estate fairy, the convicted influence peddler Tony Rezko, is a key player in the government's case. [Blago's] aim is to undercut what Rezko has told investigators. ... It is no secret that some in journalism get offended when anyone dares mention that the president was involved in Chicago politics. But the filing is not only a legal document, it's a political message from [Blago] to Obama. So allow me to translate the Chicago Way. 'Dear Barack, my old friend. I want you to use all your powers, all your skills, to make me an offer I can't refuse. I'm Mr. Celebrity-get-me-out-of-here, and you better get me out of here. Thanks, Rod.' ... US District Judge James Zagel surely isn't happy", John Kass at the Chicago Tribune, 23 April 2010, link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-kass-friday-20100423,0,983180.column.

Obama can voluntarily appear and potentially look bad. Or he can resist appearing and look worse. Apparently, Obama chose the latter course.